Verdict on five war crimes accused from Kishoreganj on Tuesday

The war crimes tribunal will give its verdict on five accused hailing from Kishoreganj on Tuesday.

The three-member International Crimes Tribunal led by Justice Anwarul Haque will deliver the verdict.

“The judge fixed the day after the matter came up on Monday’s business agenda for the court,” Prosecutor Sultan Mahmid Sheemon told bdnews24.com.

On Apr 11, the tribunal kept its verdict pending after the arguments ended.

Among the five accused is lawyer Shamsuddin Ahmed. They face seven charges of abduction, torture, murder, looting and arson committed during the Liberation War of Bangladesh.

The four other accused are absconding. They are Shamsuddin’s brother retired army captain Md Nasiruddin Ahmed, ‘Razakar Commander’ Gazi Abdul Mannan, Ajharul Islam and Hafiz Uddin.

Twenty-five people, including the investigation officer, testified to the prosecution, but the defence produced no witnesses.

The tribunal had taken the charges into congnisance three days after they were submitted on May 10 last year. The five were indicted on Oct 12, which paved the way for their trial.

The charges

Charge 1: The killing of eight and wounding of another of Bidyanagar and Ayla villages of Kishoreganj’s Karimganj from 1pm to 5pm on Nov 12, 1971.

Charge 2: The murder of Miah Hossain of Ayla Village on Nov 13.

Charge 3: Abduction and murder of Karimganj Upazila’s Md Abdul Gafur at Khudir Jungle Bridge on Sept 26.

Charge 4: The abduction of Md Fazlul Rahman Master and his confinement to a bungalow used by Peace Committee as their office. He was tortured and murdered there on Aug 23.

Charge 5: The killing of Paresh Chandra Sarkar in Ramnagar village on Sept 7.

Charge 6: Abduction, torture and murder of Abu Bakar Siddik and Rupali from Purba Nabaid Kalipur Village on Aug 25.

Charge 7: The torching of 20 to 25 houses at Atkaparha village on Sept 15.